Continuing a 45-year tradition of celebrities from a variety of entertainment genres supporting the officers who serve the citizens of Los Angeles, the Third Annual Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament and Casino Night will be held on Sunday night.
Held at Avalon Hollywood, the long-running fundraiser is held to benefit employees of the Los Angeles Police Department and their immediate families who have experienced circumstances, such as death in the line of duty or debilitating illness that forced them out of the LAPD. The Foundation assists those widows and/or orphans of officers by ensuring that they have funds for immediate expenses and future ones such as college funding, medical care, or other necessities.
The poker world is throwing their support behind the Foundation’s fundraiser. PokerStars Helping Hands, the charitable division of PokerStars and The Stars Group, is once again serving as a sponsor for the tournament. “Without their support, we may not be able to hold this event,” Al Atkins, the Executive Director of the Foundation, stated as his group prepared for the gala. “It means a great deal to us and we are grateful to PokerStars Helping Hands for the continual support.” As a part of their support for the Foundation, PokerStars and The Stars Group have contributed the Grand Prize for the celebrity poker tournament – a trip to participate in the 2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure at Paradise Island in the Bahamas this January.
“PokerStars is proud of our long-standing support for the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation and the support they provide for the men and women in blue who protect and serve their communities,” said Eric Hollreiser, the Vice President of Corporate Communications for PokerStars and The Stars Group.
Stepping up for the first time as a supporter of the gala is Poker Central. The organization, through its streaming service PokerGO, has been a part of the World Series of Poker and broadcast its own Super High Roller Bowl for the past three years. It is thought, through their support, that the celebrity poker tournament will be either broadcast live or taped for future broadcast on PokerGO.
In addition to raising needed funds for the Foundation, the group is taking the time this year to celebrate one of the people that have supported it. Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on September 22, is being feted by those attending the Foundation’s fundraiser. Lasorda has tirelessly worked to support the efforts of the Foundation over the years and they now are saying “Thank You” in a rather large way.
Some of the celebrities that will be on hand for the event include Lasorda, former Foundation Board of Directors member and Los Angeles Laker legend Jerry West, broadcasting legend Larry King, Rocky star Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Ultimate Fighting Champion legends Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, actress/model Joanna Krupa, former World Wrestling Entertainment “Diva” Torrie Wilson, and actor/poker player Lou Diamond Phillips, are all confirmed to be on the guest list. Former World Series of Poker Championship Event winner Jamie Gold and poker professional Maria Ho are confirmed from the roster of notable poker players to be coming to the event, but it is also possible that more could show up as well as other surprise guests.
The party will have something for everyone. The evening will include red carpet arrivals, a celebrity poker tournament, casino games, great food, cocktails, music, a photo booth, raffles, and auctions. Along with dozens of unique and priceless entertainment and sports items in the auction, guests will have the chance to win an LAPD airship ride, LAPD SWAT Training Day, Training at the Emergency Vehicle Operation Center to learn pursuit & PIT maneuvers, dinner with Lasorda and more.
Tickets are still available for the event on Sunday night, with a seat at the poker tables with the glitterati costing $250 and a “party only” ticket going for $100. The money goes to a great cause as the charity fundraiser is the only one run by the Foundation for the year. For more details, be sure to visit the dedicated webpage for the event.
